Magnificent Moon

"Is that the moon?" Kiel asked incredulously as we were driving home in the early evening. I glanced in the direction he indicated, but could see nothing beyond the dark outline of pine trees as our car sped east on Buffalo Road. I kept looking, catching a glimpse of rose gold color here and there, waiting for the car to clear the wooded area.

There! Hanging low in the sky, a soft dusky disc of light, an unfinished orb of fascination, the color of the glow from a porch light with a soft colored bulb. Usually on nights like this the sky unrolls a glorious tapestry of color, the effect of September sun refracting through the atmosphere. But the sun had long retired leaving only the incredible moon to mirror its glory to translating our ordinary world into a foreign planet, the place and stuff movies are made of.

I knew the moment would quickly pass, the moon shrinking as it took its rightful place in the sky above. Could the three of us hang on to this magical moment? Could we unite under its spell, drink in its incredible beauty together? I had heard that Jupiter and Saturn would be visible for a time, and for the briefest moment, thought perhaps we were seeing not the moon but an extraordinary view of a nearby planet. But no. It was the moon in full dress - black tie, tails and all, close enough to make you believe you could reach out and brush the surface with your fingertips.

We headed for home, and as we neared our destination, the moon rose to its usual hangout, losing the blush of mystery, becoming just a thin white wafer with a piece torn from the top, returning the three of us to our normal evening. Still, we were moved by the incredible beauty, the unique closeness, the fairytale wonder.

It makes me want to rewrite the old adage "Into each life a little rain must fall" to read "Into each life moments of magical beauty must glide."